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The influence of muscle strength and aerobic fitness on functional recovery in professional soccer

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posted on 2021-12-13, 14:17 authored by Will Abbott, Tom CliffordTom Clifford
BACKGROUND: Well-developed physical qualities may protect athletes from exercise-induced muscle damage and accelerate recovery following exercise. This study examined the influence of muscle strength and aerobic fitness on recovery from competitive soccer matches.
METHODS: Fourteen players from the English Premier League 2 (Age, 18 ± 1 yrs; height, 1.78 ± 0.54 m; mass, 73.8 ± 6.3 kg) were equally divided (median split) into a higher or lower group for muscle strength and aerobic fitness, according to their isometric mid-thigh pull (IMPT) and maximal aerobic speed test (MAST) scores, respectively. The following markers of recovery were assessed before (48-h pre-match), 12 h (M+1), 36 h (M+2) and 60 h (M+3) after ~3 matches: countermovement jump height (CMJ), reactive strength index (RSI), muscle soreness (DOMS) and wellbeing.
RESULTS: IMTP was positively correlated with the recovery of CMJ, RSI and DOMS following matches (P<0.05). In the high IMTP group, DOMS was lower at M+1 to M+3 (all P≤0.002; ES≥2.10), CMJ was ≥4% greater at M+1 to M+3 (all P≤0.001; ES≥2.21) and RSI was ≥3% higher at M+2 and M+3 (all P≤0037; ES≥1.25). Players in the H-MAST group did not recover quicker for any variable (all P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that stronger players recovered quicker after matches and highlights the importance of lowerbody strength training for soccer players.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

Volume

62

Issue

12

Pages

1623-1629

Publisher

Edizioni Minerva Medica

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Rights holder

© Edizioni Minerva Medica

Publisher statement

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.23736/s0022-4707.21.13401-2.

Acceptance date

2021-11-15

Publication date

2021-12-09

Copyright date

2021

ISSN

0022-4707

eISSN

1827-1928

Language

  • en

Depositor

Dr Tom Clifford. Deposit date: 13 December 2021

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